The Reading Room -- Fic: Suitable Gravity by DVS

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Suitable Gravity by DVS

http://hatstand.slashcity.net/dvs/suitable1.html

http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/16/suitablegravity.html

The quoted parts are in bold.

This story was first published in Lovers 5, Chained-to-the-Typewriter Press, 1993. The zine is a straight forward printing with no art. It's kind of pretty, with a card stock type cover in a bright neon green decorated with an outer space motif. It contains two stories, the fabulous Ellis Wards' Killing Notes (which I love) on a bright goldenrod paper and Suitable Gravity on biege/tan paper. I happen to like reading on paper, but for this on line discussion I've trundled to the archives to search out some good stuff to share.

Suitable Gravity is a true science fiction tale. It is the future in some unnamed year. Space travel is common, and Doyle, a Protector (a copper in this new world) is planning on taking his beloved to Mars for their honeymoon. Things so pear-shaped for Doyle in the first paragraphs:

"I can't marry you," she said, using the old fashioned word. Her way of speaking had always entranced him; she had the vocabulary of a Higher.

He had misunderstood at first. "Is it a client?" he asked. "I'll wait," he said. But she did not step aside, or even look at him.

'She' is the evil Ann and she's giving our lad the heave-ho. In pain, Doyle rides the ever-mentioned slipwalks to the port to try and either sell his tickets or get a refund on some of his honeymoon fare. He's a working man who can't afford to let those tickets go to waste.

Protectors learned early to seek what was different, to watch the pattern of the pedestrians and do what they could to make sure there were no disruptions. Upon rare occasions, he also had the job of stopping a crime, assisting at accident sites and acting as a medic. A Protector had a varied, busy day, maintaining the corridors of the city. Ray Doyle liked his job.

While on line, something catch's Doyle's eye and his observation tells him the man causing the ripple of a disturbance is a "Con".

The Con was scanning the crowd, looking for someone. A Protector approached, and Doyle watched the man receive the warning for slowing the flow of pedestrians. The man nodded politely and moved off. Doyle was not satisfied. His gut feeling said the man was up to something. Something....

Doyle's instincts to do something about this strange man kick in and he moves to intercept the troublemaker. The man, however, seeks Doyle's assistance.


"I need your help," the man said in a voice so soft that it couldn't be heard by the people in front of him or behind. "I'm going to hand you my ID." Reaching into his pocket with extreme care, but also with a casualness which showed he was still mindful of those who might be watching, he produced a fold-over and handed it to Doyle.

Doyle flipped it open. CI5! There was the holo of the man, the official code number, the thumbprint. It looked authentic, but as he was not at a kiosk, Doyle could not check it with the computer to be sure. He couldn't compare the holo to the face because of the privacy collar. The name on the card was Bodie. William A. P. Bodie.

"Coogan's mob is after me," the man whispered.

This is when we find out that Doyle knows about Coogan and his possible illegal activities, but they've never been able to pin a crime on the man. To "Declare" against him. Bodie asks Doyle's help, and as Protectors are obligated to help another law enforcer, Doyle agrees. They're still moving toward the platform where a ship to the Moon awaits on the first part of the journey to Mars. Doyle has a way to help Bodie get onto the ship so that his life is no longer in danger from the men Coogan's sent after him. In the traditionl of this world, Doyle ties "match ribbons" around Bodie's arm and has Bodie tie one on his. That means they're either going to be married (matched) or are newlyweds.

Doyle has no intention of actually going off world, only of helping Bodie avoid the Coogan mob looking for him. But Bodie has other ideas:

"It's perfect," Bodie breathed, and a delighted grin, the type which hints at devilish trouble for someone, widened across his face. "I'll use the ticket, get completely away from the entire lot of them! And CI5 will reimburse you for the cost of your ticket. Though don't hold-your breath, the expenses take forever to process. You won't have your money for months."

"Use the ticket?" Doyle didn't like the sound of that. For one thing, it was a cabin for two he had reserved, and he didn't know this man well enough to share quarters. Further more, he had not brought along his bag, as he had not intended to go along on this trip. "But even I'm not going! I don't have my bag! And we're not just talking about a moon trip, you know! These are tickets for Mars."

Of course, they do end up going to the Moon, and then onto Mars. I really like the descriptions of the journey. The trip is made by a "Jump" through space and time, so what is days on the trip is weeks on Earth. And sex during a Jump is fantastic.

Doyle does repeatedly tell us he's het, which is a trifle irritating to me, while Bodie is determined to have Doyle in his bed.

There is plenty of detail about food and clothing, space ships, and lots of sex, with and without gravity. Funny how het Doyle ends up loving sex with bi Bodie. *bg* Good thing that het excuse didn't last long.

There is a story line as well, that I enjoyed. There are bad guys, and more sex, and other characters. I happen to think that DVS keeps the lads fairly close to canon. I liked this Bodie and Doyle, even if Doyle did complain a bit much. Bodie teases Doyle constantly which is fun. He has the knack for bugging Doyle until Doyle finally has to laugh.

"A privacy field?" Doyle asked, as he figured out what it was. It (a device) was half the size of any he had seen before.

"And a snoop check. I don't want anyone to hear when I whisper sweet nothings in your ear!" Bodie joked.

The more Doyle tries to keep Bodie away, the more he wants him. And the more he tells himself he's not in love. Of course, this makes Bodie want him even more:

"I was responsible for ruining the only one (tunic) you have. Only right I should replace it. Besides, it'd be expected of me. Newly matched, you know. Showering you with tokens of my affection."

Doyle paused.

Bodie laughed. "They'll think I'm very passionate, that I ripped it off of you in my hurry to love you."

The story is long and involved, often with day to day trials and tribulations. And hot sex. (Did I mention that already?)

Only with Ann had he ever considered a match, and he knew now that Ann would never have permitted anything so out of the ordinary (anal sex). Ann had not been a risk taker. In the end, she'd not even risked a match with a man she had said she loved. Ann hadn't wanted him.

The idea didn't sting as it should have. Not after loving such has Ann had never given him, from a person who was in so many ways Ann's opposite.

From his match.

It hit Doyle anew that he had actually matched with Bodie, that at this moment, he had every right to be in Bodie's arms, to make love to him as often and as fervently as he liked. Bodie wouldn't mind. Bodie would take everything he was offered, and love it.

Thinking they're safe, they don't see trouble when it comes. Bodie is gone and Doyle is desperate to find him, which he does, outside an airlock:

That was when Doyle realized his feelings for Bodie had gone further than he had realized. The normal dismay and revulsion which should have come was so muted by stabbing anxiety and desperate hope that his only big reaction was relief that Bodie was actually moving, pulling himself up on his forearms. Head hanging, shoulders heaving, huffing and gasping, Bodie looked....

In this world, weapons are outlawed. There is rarely a murder and when Doyle realises that somebody is trying to murder Bodie, he's shocked:

A weapon! Just the sort of weapon which had been used on Bodie once before? Memory of the scar, the fused flesh across otherwise perfect features came hard on the heels of the coldness of fear.

The weapon killed.

They were trying to kill Bodie.

In order to save his match, Doyle must eventually do the unthinkable, and his thoughts swamp him in emotion:

I killed him. The memory of how it felt under his hands, the give of the flesh, the choke of faltering breath, the encompassing power of the anger he had felt, came back to him with chilling clarity. I killed him.

For Bodie.

But I killed him.

Just like a Con. No different from the Caught. Pain lanced through him, some of it physical, some of it mental. It was hard to breathe.

Doyle feels betrayed. Not only has he done something that he never dreamed of doing, killing another human being, he discovers another horrible fact on the way back to Earth:

Doyle interrupted. "Everything you say and do is recorded?" Bodie nodded, and Doyle came up onto one arm, struggling to sit up. "Do you mean every time we...each time you even kissed me, everything I said to you while we.... It was recorded?"

The implant in Bodie has transmitted every single second of their time together, to be viewed, transcribed, and presented to George Cowley for his perusal. Doyle is livid. In spite of capturing the bad guys, he refuses Cowley's offer to join CI5 and goes home alone, angry and bitter.

Alone in his bed several hours later, he finally had to acknowledge to himself that it was strange being alone. No Bodie next to him, no warm body or steady breathing. No magic fingers and caressing lips.

Then more introspection really bothers him:

Perhaps he should see a professional therapist about the killing. It bothered him. But how could he explain that part of what bothered him was the feeling that the man he had killed had deserved what he got? That Doyle was quite aware that he could do it again in similar circumstances? That whatever saved Bodie's life was justified?

He wasn't as good as he had always thought himself. Perfect little Pro, following the rules, forcing others to follow them as well. Was that what was bothering him?

I really like the scene where Doyle, now back to his regular life sans Bodie, is at a pub with his fellow Pros and Ann walks in, wearing match ribbons and accompanied by another man. This barely months after she refused Doyle's offer to match. Doyle is feeling badly, seeing Ann so happy with someone else while he has no one. Then suddenly, it's all right.

Ann smiled too sweetly, at him, and asked "And did you enjoy your trip to Mars, Raymond?"

"Loved every minute of it," Doyle said at once, with a complete disregard for the truth.

"He certainly did. I made sure of it." The deep sexy voice came from behind Doyle. He whirled, fighting to keep his amazement from his face, knowing even before he turned who stood there.

Bodie. Bodie, dressed all in black, drink in hand and...Doyle's gaze fastened on Bodie's face.

And as we all know by now, I love a happy ending:


"You've already changed me," Bodie said. "I've never fallen in love before. Didn't think I could."

"Never?" Doyle wondered aloud.

"Guess I was waiting for the best, Doyle," Bodie said lightly. Then, more seriously, he asked, "Ray? May I stay?"

Doyle was still for a moment, and then he nodded. "Move your things in tonight, if you like."

So I hope you all found time to read this great story. I did find the world a bit too perfect since most of the problems of humanity have apparently been solved, but that was very minor to me. Just ignore the American spellings and enjoy the flight to Mars and back with the lads.

Comments

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

It's kind of pretty, with a card stock type cover in a bright neon green decorated with an outer space motif. It contains two stories, the fabulous Ellis Wards' Killing Notes (which I love) on a bright goldenrod paper and Suitable Gravity on biege/tan paper.

I'm puzzled - my copy has the neon green cover, and Ellis Ward's story is on orange paper, but DVS's is on "purple" paper. Any idea why the difference?

[the-shoshanna.livejournal.com]

She probably printed them in batches, using whatever paper she had on hand at the time.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for stopping in. I'm making tea right now.

I can understand the idea that the printer used whatever was on hand. I kind of like that the stories are separated on different colours. I picked the zine up at MW this year specifically to have Suitable Gravity in print. Having Killing Notes means I'll read that again as well.

[kiwisue.livejournal.com]

Ah, thanks *g*. I find text on the orangey paper a little hard to read, but "Suitable Gravity" is fine - just as well, it's my favourite of the two.

[moonlightmead.livejournal.com]

I have just acquired this zine myself, and mine has a neon green cover with a blue title page before Killing Notes; Killing Notes is on pale green; and Suitable Gravity is on yellow! Different fonts for the two stories too.

(A belated answer, but just in case you are still monitoring - and for anyone who reads it in years to come, I suppose...)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Actually Chained to the Typewriter Press also did To Friends (http://www.palelyloitering.com/zines/tofriends.html), which also has every story on a different colour paper - it must have been one of their design features. I quite like it actually, it makes the different stories easy to find!

Perhaps they were a publisher who felt they were making zines for a smaller, more personal group of people, and that each one didn't have to be exactly the same...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Love this story, very much! And as you say, the zine is quite pretty. *g* There's a picture of it here, for anyone who's interested (http://www.palelyloitering.com/zines/lovers5.html). Can't remember the colour of the pages in my copy though... *g*

I love that DVS has managed to both build her world of the future, and keep it feeling both science-fiction-y and yet also realistic, and has also stayed very true to our (well, my *g*) Bodie and Doyle. I can picture both of them, from the eps, very clearly in this! There's a lovely atmosphere to it too, perhaps because we're so close to Doyle and his thoughts all the way through, and we can feel the way he likes Bodie, and is attracted to him, no matter how many times he says he's het. Oh and there's plot, there's plot as well - and it's beautifully balanced with the relationship stuff, and the humour, and... well, everything.

One of my favourite fics!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

I feel that as "far out" as this AU is, DVS kept the lads closer to canon than a lot of CI5 stories. She did a great job and I felt she gave me Bodie and Doyle, and a fun story.

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

closer to canon than a lot of CI5 stories - yes! She's tailored the AU so that it fits canon beautifully - and I never feel that she's had to stretch or scrunch up anything to do so. *g*

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

I think you forgot to mention that there was hot sex. ;-)

But hey! – I’ve read a SciFi story! :-)

You were right. It’s an enjoyable reading from start to finish. I esp. like the beginning. The ‘Doyle helps Bodie without asking too many questions’ part.
And Bodies teasing is very funny. He seems to be so sure that he would convince Ray of his qualities! :-)
I privatly am a bit sad that Bodie is wearing that privacy collar most of the time. But of course it’s part of the story. It makes Bodie for Doyle desirable and doubtable at the same time.

The scene with Ann and Bodie in the bar is very cute!
”"Loved every minute of it," Doyle said at once, with a complete disregard for the truth.
"He certainly did. I made sure of it." The deep sexy voice came from behind Doyle.”
Hehe! :-) Well Ann… that was a mistake! A big mistake! :-)

But there is one point I see differently. ” I did find the world a bit too perfect since most of the problems of humanity have apparently been solved…”
I can’t see that this world is perfect. The is much observation, very many interference from the state. Part of Doyle’s job is to react on every little aberration from normality. Even the sex life is regulated. And those holiday hosts (animateurs) wouldn’t survive one day at Club Med… The whole travel is organised like a military mission.
No! No perfect world I think.

Thank you for the rec!
I did enjoy the story very much, - despite the SciFi elements. ;-)

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. I'm so happy you enjoyed it. *passes plate of biscuits*

I understand your point about the perfect world. I think I mean more that there's very little crime, nobody's staring on the street, that sort of thing. It's very regulated, which in itself could be a detriment.

Thanks!

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

This is one of my absolute favourites too - B&D both seem very consistent and satisfyingly characterised to me, with skilful use of a well-built world. For exampe, Doyle being so devastated by having to kill to save Bodie and himself is nicely accentuated by having this be a world where killing is so rare - the world-building and the character-building dovetail perfectly together. Same goes for Doyle's background as a "Pro" and Bodie's as a former Soldier; I feel that DVS has created an AU world that fits them both extremely well. The world is fully detailed without it feeling clunky and over-described, imo, so that although there is plenty of information about slipways and spaceships and match ribbons etc. it all slips down very smoothly. The plot is exciting, and the relationship grows and develops in a more than satisfying way too - with Bodie going from merely fancying the Pro he has stumbled across at a crucial moment to appreciating his skills and courage to falling in love with him, while Doyle goes from finding Bodie irritating and arrogant to finding him attractive to discovering that he is willing to do anything to save him. It rings true, though, that Doyle would be so outraged by Cowley (and the surveillance device) that he walks away - and of course for the reader it makes the final scene all the sweeter, where Bodie saving Doyle from humiliation and discomfiting Doyle's former prospective match is the icing on the cake. I love this story - just about everything about it except getting to the end and having no more of it to read!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting. Very well said. DVS did indeed give us an entire universe without spending pages and pages of text on descriptions. I felt it was concise and well presented when compared to some other stories that tend to go off into long explanations of whatever world the writer is trying to show us. This story melded it all so well that you gained the information while you move through the story. I never felt as if I was being given too much or too little information.

Also the pacing was great. I didn't find myself skipping any lines or paragraphs, let alone pages. I wanted to read every word, and reading it again was just as satisfying as the first time.

[metabolick.livejournal.com]

My absolute fave Pros AU. Bodie’s confident and unabashed coming on to a resistant Ray is just *so* Bodie. All the little details of living on a spaceship (including the sex scene in zero G!) are wonderful. An example is the hoods over the food tables to secure the food if gravity were to fail. And their banter is spot on:

Bodie picked up a shrimp-shaped bit of vegiform. "Open wide, my petal," he teased, and brought it towards Doyle's mouth.

"Only," Doyle told him, sotto voce, "if you want me to bite off your fingers."

I deeply admire this author’s ability to set the lads in a sci-fi universe, keep them in character, and tell an interesting case story at the same time. Great rec!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Hello! *tea?*

I agree very much. The lines you quoted are so "them". This sort of story makes me smile. I don't have to search for the lads. They're right there, in all their glory. *g*

[metabolick.livejournal.com]

Ta for the tea. ::passes a chocolate biccie::

There are plenty of AUs (and CI5 stories as well) that I enjoy where the lads aren't recognizable, but when they are it's a real bonus.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

It's possible for me to enjoy a story "without" the lads but if I want Pros, it has to be a really good story to distract me. I often use Larton as an example. I don't see any lads in it, but it's a wonderful story.

[metabolick.livejournal.com]

Agree 100%.

[scherwood]

This is one of my favourite AU's. The lads are soooooo in-character and the story is funny and interesting. I don't get bored by all the descriptions and stuff - it grabs me and I want to know more. It's smooth.

I love the trip and all the space stuff too, and the "complicated" relationship between B&D in this story. I kinda like how Doyle complains a lot, and how Bodie just try and get Doyle to go with the flow... almost. *grin*

It's nice that you don't get to see so much of the bad guys and that they break up - because of Cowley and Doyle's feelings - and then get together again in that cute last scene with Ann. *giggle*

This universe is soooo much better than "The Cook and the Warehouseman" - another space AU we had here not long ago - because this AU is made for them. The canon B&D. Bodie's background is perfect and so is Doyle's. You can see them in this AU - and you just couldn't do that in TCatW. This is everything an AU is supposed to be. *happy*

My favourite part is the part when Doyle save Bodie and then has to kill for Bodie. I love the writing and feelings the author conveys in that part.

He was thinking only of Bodie as he acted. Drawing on reserves he never imagined he had, he let launched himself at Arello, letting lose a cry with all his anger, his fear, his determination behind it. Their bodies went down together in a tangle of arms and legs. Shouts behind him told a story of three against one, impossible odds for Bodie in his weakened condition.

Now! No time! Bodie....

In the back of his soul, something tore, releasing adrenalin, releasing his temper and his strength. He didn't even realize it as his hands found Arello's neck, as fine bones with were crushed and the head slammed down hard on the floor. It would not have been enough to kill on earth, but the gravity strip was directly under the man's head and both the ridge of the center and the pull of it aided his anger. He knew when it happened, and he let go of the empty weight, scrabbling instead for what the man had held.

....

"Yes." Honesty was in Bodie's eyes, when Doyle put down the food and turned to look at him directly. "I know your feelings aren't the same as mine. I'll work to change them."

"Change me," Doyle said, quietly. He had changed a great deal since he met Bodie. He didn't understand all of it, wasn't sure exactly what it meant, but he did know Bodie meant what he said. Bodie loved him. Warmth flowed through him, feelings a little different from any he had ever had before.

"And...accept the things I can't change," Bodie said.

I love this part. :D ... It makes me laugh. :P

.....

"Sunshine?" and then, "Ray?"

"Just stopped to appreciate you," he said with suitable gravity, and proceeded to show him just how much.

LoL xD
And everyone goes: Aww~ :3

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thanks for visiting.

Oh, yeah, exactly right, what you said. *g* I didn't have to struggle to read this story at all. The other story you mentioned was painful for me to try an read. I didn't like either character. They didn't make me love them, feel for them, want to know more about them, or care about them. I really cared about the lads here.

But I love the canon characters and I really appreciate the talent it takes to put our lads into such a different world. This is what I consider my type of AU. There are no pod people masquerading as our boys.

[scherwood]

My pleasure! *bow*

Thanx~ ;P
No, it's very easy to read... *happy sigh* A BIG plus in my book...
I agree about the other story. *nod*

This is what I consider my type of AU. There are no pod people masquerading as our boys.
Mine too! :D *super happy*

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

I've got to apologise for not reading Suitable Gravity this time around. I don't have ready access to my own printer and I hate reading longish stories online, but I did read it a while back and remember enjoying it a lot, and that's despite the fact that it's science fiction - a type of story I don't usually seek out.

This is what I wrote when I first read it: I thought it was well written, original, sweet, funny and very different. A refreshing change

And these were some quotes which I particularly loved:

And a battered heart. First Ann, now Bodie. Neither one a suitable mate, so why waste tears over either of them? Ann was too cold and Bodie was too hot. Somewhere there had to be a woman for him...........................

Bodie. Bodie, dressed all in black, drink in hand and...Doyle's gaze fastened on Bodie's face. No privacy collar. No scar! Eyes wide, Doyle drank in his first sight of Bodie's face. Handsome. It struck him, hard, what an incredibly handsome man Bodie was. In a culture where many people elected to improve the face they were born with, where good looks were the rule rather than the exception, Bodie still managed to outshine everyone in the room. His dark hair, pale skin, and midnight blue eyes, above red lips and a tremendously fit body, made a package which drew every eye in the place.

So, apologies again for not being able to contribute more, but thank you for the rec as it's a great story and probably one I wouldn't have read unless it *was* recommended.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, no need to apologise! I haven't been able to read every single story rec'd here. Sometimes things are busy in RL. Darn it anyway. *beg*

You picked out two nice quotes. That description of Bodie is dead on. I think the author has a deft touch with language. I get plenty to paint the pictures in my head without her over-writing it.

I don't necessarily dislike scifi type stories, but even in TS, I can remember only one or two actually hitting that button in me that says: this story works!

Thank you!

[shooting2kill.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do try and read science fiction stories occasionally but they're not my first choice and the idea of them (as opposed to the reality) doesn't seem to hold much attraction for me, probably because I find it hard imagining the 'other worlds' of science fiction/futuristic stories and sometimes finding it even harder trying to understand what's going on, the terminology etc. Having said that, for some reason I was always able to imagine the context of a story such as The Same River, maybe because it was still a London (not other-worldly) setting and places were mentioned which I recognised, it was still ci5-based and not that far into the future. Anyway I'm so pleased I got the chance to read Suitable Gravity *and* to enjoy it very much!

[jj-minerva.livejournal.com]

This was a rare treat and one that I would have missed out on if not for the Raeding Room and sc fossil’s rec.

I almost stopped reading when I reached the word ‘Mars’. I realised I’d had a go at this story before and stopped because it just seemed too incongruous to me at the time. I generally don’t read AUs for that reason and I rarely find one that I consider believable. However, I’d cut my teeth on sci-fi and although I don’t read much now, I decided to press on and give Suitable Gravity a go. After all, if I loved Pros and enjoyed sci-fi, then there was a good chance that I’d like SG on some level.

As I progressed I wondered whose universe she was using; had she made her own or was she using someone else’s? I discarded Bradbury’s Martin Chronicles and Cherryh’s Merchanteer universe. I wondered about Heinlein but didn’t know his Mars stories well enough. After reading the previous comments and finding out that DVS created this world herself, I am truly impressed. It is rich, interesting, different but just familiar enough to feel comfortable. I struggled with a few of the terms at first but quickly picked them up without DVS having to go to great lengths explaining. Immersing the reader in her world is very skilfully done.

The characters of Bodie and Doyle were quickly recognizable both in their actions and their familiar banter. As others have said, DVS’s characterisations are close to perfect and far better than some non-AU fic.

The plot is a perfect vehicle for them and they are at home in their roles which have a familiarity for the reader whilst still being different. Whilst she uses a couple of cliched plot devices such as B&D having to pose as a couple, she makes it believable with her skilful world building and exciting story.

The sex scenes, ahem…yes, hot, umm, hot, ahh…nuff said! I’m sure the jump sex idea came from somewhere else and I seem to recall reading something similar in my dim, dark, nerdy youth but who cares….it was hot!

The calibre of the writing is superb…I can’t say any more than that. I’d happily read more of her work if it is all of this quality.

All in all it’s hard to find a single fault with the story. The ending is a little contrived for me, but I could forgive that because I was so caught up in the fantasy and was waiting for the happy ending.

Does anyone know the writing history of the fic? How long did it take her and where did she get her inspiration?

Thanks to sc-fossil for the rec because this is a great story that I would have missed if not for the reading room.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thank you for coming to visit. *pours tea*

Really, it's just so cool that you kept at it, and then you found you liked the story. I don't know about the history of the story, but if somebody does, I hope they speak up.

There are plenty of "going to Mars" or trips into outer space stories. Each writer gets to make it their own.

[gritsinmisery.livejournal.com]

Sorry I'm late. RL gets busy sometimes. *passes Garabaldis and a bouquet to hostess*

I fear I'm just playing Echo to everyone else here -- this is a brilliant piece of sci fi and a brilliant Pros fic. We've got the proper history for the Lads, we've got their voices (well, mostly -- I could do with a wee bit more of Bodie's goofy and occasionally inappropriate humor, but there's some of that, even, and hey, he is on the run), and we've got a world of the future that is clear without the world-building taking over the fic itself. We've got our darling Cow in all his terse, roughshod, parsimonious glory. We even get a shout-out to the original writers of Mars-fic.

I know this is a Ray PoV fic and therefore we can't see Bodie's thought processes, but I do wish there was a bit clearer "a-ha!" moment so we could see when Bodie goes from seeing sex w/ Ray as just a side-benefit of his cover story to something he absolutely wants to have for always. Yes, yes, I know -- not having that defining moment puts us more in Ray's shoes about not knowing if Bodie's serious or just out for a temporary good time...

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

You're not late! I get all the way until the next review posting time to play. *g*

Thanks for commenting. I'm happy you enjoyed the story. I think so far most folks have. But if not, that's still cool. I'd love to hear other views of why it didn't work.

I admit I'm a lover of single POV stories. It is different than the usual, where thoughts and actions bounce back and forth. I like the tension, the not knowing, how everything is revealed through Doyle's eyes. For me that puts me in HIS place, with the same fears and joys. It's so personal when a story is written that way, and it's how any of us live our lives. Not many of us are psychic *snirk* and we only knows what's what from our POV without the benefit of a glimpse into the other person's brain.

[tears-of-nienna.livejournal.com]

I love this story because it's two of my favorite tropes in one: They have to go undercover as a couple--in space! But it's so much more than that, as well. It's a nice blend of action and romance, and the lads really shine through in all their bantering, occasionally-stroppy glory.

I loved how easy it was to sink into this universe, too. The transportation, the cultural details, everything just kind of immersed me in the story. Slipwalks and match ribbons and Jump-sex--yes, please! I've read this fic before, but I was glad to have an excuse to do it again. Thanks for reccing it!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

How nice of you to spend time reading and commenting. I appreciate that! *cinnamon toast with your tea?*

It's such a joy when a story clicks.

I suppose I should find one that we can argue over next time! We're all enjoying this one.

Thank you.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

OK, so I adore this! I was desperate for someone to rec it, to see what the rest of you have to say, and I knew I couldn’t guarantee being around,(and I was only just back in time) so many thanks to our chairperson for the week!! And flowers and chocolate muffins and whatever.

The story has everything I enjoy. It was sci-fi, which I love, ‘hard’ sci-fi that could easily have come form the pen of a Hal Clements or a C..J.Cherryh. ‘Our’ lads in this AU were completely themselves and in character and even their speech patterns were‘right’. Their jobs/roles were believable and this was an ‘episode’ fic with the baddies getting caught (one even killed) at the end whilst the general population, as well as the pair themselves, were protected from all evil. Pervading all this was the hot ‘first time’ sex, always furthering plot, character development or description of place or conditions like the Jump. There was angst in abundance, humour, sweetness, and even an exploration of what it means to kill. The angst arose from the situation as well as from their own feelings and that made it real. There was the initial distress of breaking up with Ann (also well-portrayed) echoed by the possible break-up with Bodie, and the joy of the first Jump echoed by the confusion of the second contrasting neatly with the two consecutive relationships. Tangled and intriguing, like Doyles’ reactions! And there were so many meanings assigned to the words of the title! The ending wasn’t so much ‘happy ever after’ as giving us the sense that they were at the beginning of a lifetime of exploration.

There were flaws, too, but I hardly noticed them on first or even second reading, a sure sign that a fic has really ‘hooked’ me. There a number of typos (though no more than in e.g. Robin Hobbs’ latest published trilogy), a few formatting glitches (line breaks that should not be there), and an overabundance of commas. Doyle’s job as a Pro is sometimes capitalised and sometimes not, and he remembers a kiss at the matching ceremony that didn’t appear in the text. I should also note that ‘illude’ is not, to my knowledge an English word on either side of the Atlantic (though I know the author must be American from his/her use of ‘off of’). I know, I’m fussy, but so often errors like this throw me out of a story. They didn’t here, which just highlights the excellence of the general writing and plot.

It was one of the first AU Pros stories I read, and I remember being thrilled. I also remember rainbow colours in the Jump and I notice there are actually only red and yellow so maybe I was in a cloud of euphoria? Some fics can do that!! This one did.

I’m so glad so many other people liked it too - I have really liked about half the stories recced so far - but have been fascinated by the rest. This one hasn’t generated lots of discussion but it’s great that it has introduced a wonderful story to people who hadn’t read it before!

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Thank you for taking the time to comment. You gave a very good description of the story, and like you mentioned, those few things that were a bit off weren't enough to ruin a great read.

I really enjoy The Reading Room as well. It's fun hearing everybody's takes on different stories.

[constant-muse.livejournal.com]

I am feeling sooo guilty for not having been here this weekend, but pleased because it was a good discussion, and very appreciative of you for such a good review and for being such a good host.
I do apologise, RL has got on top of me and I really do need that holiday.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Oh, no problem. I had fun and this is a story that most folks enjoyed in spite of a few tiny problems. We all need a holiday. I know how that feels.

I've been thinking of a story that might stir up a bit of controversy since the past few I've done everybody generally has enjoyed. It would be fun to find one that gets the discussion ripping along. *g* Problem is I can't read a lot of those!

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

One of the delights of the Reading Room is that even when everybody is more or less in general agreement over a story, for good or ill, people comment with extra insights and new perspectives that never fail to enhance the reading experience for that and further stories! I think all we can do is rec reasonably well-sritten stuff, which everything so far has been, and get the host/hostess for the week to give a good introduction, as you did.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

Definitely. It's such fun. Thank you for the encouragement.